Cushioned tape and method to improve playability and grip

ABSTRACT

A cushioned tape to improve the playability and feel of a hockey stick blade is disclosed. The cushioned tape contains a bottom adhesive layer, a middle cushioned layer, and a top film layer. The cushioned tape is designed to be overwrapped with protective tape such as traditional cloth hockey tape. Additionally, the cushioned tape can be used to improve the handle and grip portion of other sporting implements.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/579,090 filed 2011 Dec. 22 by the present inventor.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved cushioned tape and method of application to improve the playability of a hockey stick blade and the grip of other sports or actions using an implement with a handle.

The transition from wood hockey sticks to composite hockey sticks has created playability issues due to the added stiffness and strength of these composite sticks. A traditional wood hockey stick blade offers a player more feel for the puck due to its flexibility and forgiveness. When a player has a better feel for the puck on their stick blade, their ability to stick handle and shoot the puck improves. One of the most popular ways to improve the playability of a hockey stick is to wrap the blade with a cloth tape. Although cloth tape provides some cushion for the puck, it is still not enough cushion when used on a composite stick.

To make a composite stick more forgiving and provide a player with a better feel for the puck, the composite stick blade needs to be cushioned beyond cloth tape. The current prior art attempts to cushion the blade through the use of pads or sleeves as seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,810,682, 6,273,835, and 5,558,326. These pads and sleeves provide a standalone cushion for the blade that contacts the puck. Often these types of pads and sleeves include surface treatments to grip the puck or improve puck handling. One drawback of these sleeves and pads is their standalone nature. Players are generally accustomed to using cloth tape and would prefer to use cloth tape as the surface that contacts the puck. Therefore, a need exists for an article that both cushions the puck and is designed to be overwrapped with protective tape.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cushioned tape for use in sports, particularly for use on a hockey stick blade. The cushioned tape is designed to be covered by a top layer of protective tape, preferably traditional cloth hockey tape. The cushioned tape contains three layers: a top film layer, a middle cushioned layer, and a bottom adhesive layer. In the preferred embodiment, the tape is provided on a roll and applied at selective lengths to the implement it is to be used on.

In an alternative embodiment, the roll of tape is specifically designed for use on a hockey stick blade and sandwiches the bottom of the stick blade. In this configuration a wide top layer is bonded to two separate middle layers and adhesive layers, such that the two sections are placed on the front and back of the blade with the top layer connecting them together.

Alternatively, the cushioned tape could be used on the handle of other sporting goods to provide a cushioned grip. In this embodiment, a section of cushioned tape is applied on the handle portion of the implement and covered by a cloth or grip tape.

A method of improving the playability of a hockey stick is provided, whereby a user will apply a piece of cushioned tape horizontally along a puck-contacting surface of a hockey stick blade and then overwrap the blade and cushioned tape with cloth or other similar tape. This method will impart a cushion to the stick blade.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention and together with the description serve to further explain the principles of the invention. Other aspects of the invention and the advantages of the invention will be better appreciated as they become better understood by reference to the Detailed Description when considered in conjunction with accompanying drawings, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a hockey stick blade with the cushioned tape applied, according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 of a hockey stick blade with the cushioned tape applied, according present invention.

FIG. 2A is a close up view of the layers of the cushioned tape as indicated in FIG. 2, according present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the cushioned tape, according present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 of a hockey stick blade with the cushioned tape applied, according present invention.

FIG. 5 is a prospective view of the other uses of the cushioned tape, according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1-FIG. 2A, of the placement of a cushioned tape 10 on a hockey stick blade 200. The cushioned tape 10 is used to increase the playability, feel, and puck control of the hockey stick blade 200 by cushioning the hockey stick blade 200 resulting in less vibration. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cushioned tape 10 is provided on a roll and can be applied to a puck-contacting surface 206 of a hockey stick blade 200. Although a roll is preferred, the cushioned tape 10 may be provided in precut strips. The cushioned tape 10 has an upper edge 12 and a lower edge 14, with a width between the upper edge 12 and the lower edge 14 of between 1 centimeter and 4 centimeters. Although this is the preferred width, other widths may be available dependent upon player preference and the amount of vibration dampening necessary.

Preferably, the cushioned tape 10 is applied horizontally along the puck-contacting surface 206 of a hockey stick blade 200 in parallel to the length of an ice-contacting surface 204 of the hockey stick blade 200, although the cushioned tape 10 can be applied across the hockey stick blade 200 at any location. Ideally, the cushioned tape 10, regardless of the tape width, is applied so that the lower edge 14 of the cushioned tape 10 is placed within the lowest 2.5 centimeters of the puck-contacting surface 206 of the hockey stick blade 200 as measured up from the ice-contacting surface 204 of the hockey stick blade 200 and in parallel to the ice-contacting surface 204 of the hockey stick blade 200, as the width of a regulation hockey puck is 2.54 centimeters. After application of the cushioned tape 10 to the blade 200, the user will wrap the blade 200 and cushioned tape 10 with protective tape, preferably traditional cloth hockey tape.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-2A, a side view of the stick blade 200 along the reference line 2-2 of FIG. 1 with the cushioned tape 10 applied. The cushioned tape 10 is composed of three layers: a top film layer 101, the top film layer having an upper side 104 and a lower side 105; a bottom adhesive layer 103; and a middle cushioned layer 102, the middle cushioned layer 102 sandwiched between the lower side 105 of the top film layer 101 and the bottom adhesive layer 103. In this configuration, the cushioned tape 10 can be easily applied to a blade 200 with the adhesive layer 103. Ideally, the adhesive layer 103 provides a level of attachment that allows the cushioned tape 10 to adhere to the blade 200 during multiple tapings and untapings of overwrapped protective tape, preferably traditional cloth hockey tape.

The middle cushioned layer 102 can be of varying thicknesses to provide varying options of the cushioned tape 10 dependent upon a player's desired level of padding in the hockey stick blade. Preferably, the middle cushioned layer 102 is between 1 millimeter and 3 millimeters thick. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the middle cushioned layer 102 is composed of polyethylene foam. Although polyethylene foam is preferred for the middle cushioned layer 102, other types and densities of cushioned material may be used, such as memory foam, rubber, sponge, encapsulated air, or other similar material.

The top film layer 101 provides a barrier to the middle cushioned layer 102 and allows protective tape to be applied over the cushioned tape 10 without damaging the middle cushioned layer 102. Preferably the top film layer 101 is composed of a 5 mil polyethylene film that is laminated to the middle cushioned layer 102. A polyethylene film is preferred due to its ability to withstand multiple overwrappings with a protective tape. Although polyethylene film is preferred, other similar types of film or barrier substances with similar properties may be used.

The method of using the cushioned tape 10 according to the preferred embodiment will have a user select the desired length of cushioned tape 10 to apply to the blade 200 and removing this portion from the roll of tape. The cushioned tape 10 may be applied the entire length of the blade or only a portion of the blade. Likewise, the cushioned tape 10 may be applied to either or both of the puck-contacting surfaces 206 of the hockey stick blade 200. The user will then apply the cushioned tape 10 to the stick blade 200 with the bottom adhesive layer 103 abutting the puck-contacting surface 206 of the hockey stick blade 200. The user will then press down on the cushioned tape 10 to ensure adequate adhesion to the stick blade 200. The user will then overwrap the cushioned tape 10 with a protective tape, preferably traditional cloth hockey tape. This will give the user the traditional feel of cloth tape with the added cushion and playability the cushioned tape 10 provides.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-4, an alternate embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The cushioned tape 10 is provided in an alternate configuration. In this configuration the cushioned tape 10 is applied to both puck-contacting surfaces 206 of a hockey stick blade 200 simultaneously with the top film layer 101 extending underneath the ice-contacting surface 204 of the hockey stick blade 200. According to this configuration, the cushioned tape 10 will contain the same three layers of the first embodiment, but the middle cushioned layer 102 and the bottom adhesive layer 103 will not extend across the entire width of the cushioned tape 10. To apply the cushioned tape according this embodiment, a user will select the proper length of cushioned tape 10, corresponding to the length desired to be applied to the blade 200. The user will then affix one side of the cushioned tape 10 to one puck-contacting surface 206 of the stick blade 200 and wrap the remaining portion of the cushioned tape 10 under the ice-contacting surface 204 of the stick blade 200 and affix the remaining portion of the cushioned tape 10 to the opposite puck-contacting surface 206 of the hockey stick blade 200. The cushioned tape 10, in a cross-sectional view will appear U-shaped sandwiching the blade 200.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the cushioned tape 10 can be applied to objects other than a hockey stick blade 200. The cushioned tape 10 can be used to increase the comfort and playability of various sporting implements, such as bats 300, rackets 400, and lacrosse sticks 500. Additionally, the cushioned tape 10 may be applied to the handle of a hockey stick. When used to improve the grip of an object, the cushioned tape 10 can be applied parallel to the length of the object in strips and be overwrapped with a cloth or other grip tape. Additionally, the cushioned tape 10 could be wrapped horizontally or helically around the grip portion and overwrapped with a cloth or other grip tape. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cushioned tape for attachment to a sporting implement, the cushioned tape comprising, in combination: a. a top film layer, the top film layer having an upper side and a lower side, wherein the upper side of the top film layer allows a protective tape to be removably applied over the cushioned tape; b. a bottom adhesive layer; and c. a middle cushioned layer, the middle cushioned layer sandwiched between the lower side of the top film layer and the bottom adhesive layer, wherein the bottom adhesive layer can be placed by a user in removable adhesive communication with the sporting implement.
 2. The cushioned tape of claim 1, wherein the top film layer is composed of a polyethylene film with a thickness of 5 mils.
 3. The cushioned tape of claim 1, wherein the middle cushioned layer is composed of polyethylene foam with a thickness between 1 millimeter and 3 millimeters.
 4. The cushioned tape of claim 1, wherein the cushioned tape has a width between 1 centimeter and 4 centimeters.
 5. The cushioned tape of claim 1, wherein the cushioned tape is provided on a roll, whereby the user can cut a desired length from the roll for placement on a sporting implement.
 6. The cushioned tape of claim 1, wherein the cushioned tape is provided in a pre-cut strip.
 7. A cushioned tape for attachment to a hockey stick blade, the cushioned tape having an upper edge and a lower edge, with a width between the upper edge and the lower edge being between 1 centimeter and 4 centimeters, for removable attachment to a hockey stick blade, the cushioned tape comprising, in combination: a. a top film layer composed of a polyethylene film 5 mils thick, the top film layer having an upper side and a lower side, wherein the upper side of the top film layer allows a protective tape to be removably applied over the cushioned tape; b. a bottom adhesive layer; and c. a middle cushioned layer composed of polyethylene foam with a thickness between 1 millimeter and 3 millimeters, the middle cushioned layer sandwiched between the lower side of the top film layer and the bottom adhesive layer, wherein the bottom adhesive layer can be placed by a user in removable adhesive communication with a puck-contacting surface of the hockey stick blade.
 8. The cushioned tape of claim 7, wherein the cushioned tape is provided on a roll, whereby the user can cut a desired length from the roll for use on the hockey stick blade.
 9. The cushioned tape of claim 7, wherein the cushioned tape is provided in a pre-cut strip.
 10. The cushioned tape of claim 9, wherein the pre-cut strip has a length between 20 centimeters and 30 centimeters.
 11. A method for removably affixing a cushioned tape to a puck-contacting surface of a hockey stick blade, the hockey stick blade having an ice-contacting surface and an upper surface, the method comprising: a. selecting the desired length of the cushioned tape; b. placing the desired length of cushioned tape into the desired position on the puck-contacting surface of the hockey stick blade, whereby the cushioned tape adheres to the puck-contacting surface of the hockey stick blade; and c. overwrapping the cushioned tape with a layer of protective tape.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the cushioned tape has an upper edge and a lower edge, with a width between the upper edge and the lower edge being between 1 centimeter and 4 centimeters, the cushioned tape comprising, in combination: a. a top film layer composed of a polyethylene film 5 mils thick, the top film layer having an upper side and a lower side; b. a bottom adhesive layer; and c. a middle cushioned layer composed of polyethylene foam with a thickness between 1 millimeter and 3 millimeters, the middle cushioned layer sandwiched between the lower side of the top film layer and the bottom adhesive layer.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the lower edge of the cushioned tape is placed within the lowest 2.5 centimeters of the puck-contacting surface of the hockey stick blade as measured up from the ice-contacting surface of the hockey stick blade and in parallel to the ice-contacting surface of the hockey stick blade. 